Reenforced wooden bow and method of manufacture thereof



Jan. 13, 1931. G. L. FITCH 1,789,137

REENFORCED WOODEN B OW AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE .THEREOF Filed July'13,1929 INVENTOR.

60/ L. F/rcfl,

A TTORNEYJ'.

Patented Jan. 13, 1931 UNITED STATES nnmvroncnn WOODEN BOW AND Mensch onMAivuFA'crUitn Trimmer Application filed my 13,

This invention relates to a wooden bow for vehicle tops and to a methodof manufacture of such a bow. v

The principal object of the invention is to provide a metalreenforcement for a wooden bow having said reenforcement inset in theinner side of the bow, although certain features 'of the method ofmanufacture are equally applicable to a bow having the'reenl0 forcementin any other desired relation to the wooden member. I

The principal features of the invention reside in the bow itself and inthe novel method of manufacturing said bow wherein the metalreenforcement is set in place before the bending ofthe wood structureand the wood and metal are then simultaneously bent to the desiredshape.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from theaccompanying drawings and the following description and claims.

Fig. 1 is a viewv of the wooden portion of the bow prior to bendingshowing in dotted .25 line the position of a receiving slot for thereenforcing piece. Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 ofFig. 1. Fig. 3 is a View illustrating the shape of the reenforcing piecebefore insertion into the receiving slot illustrated in Fig. 1. Fig. 4is an elevational view of the completed bow. Fig. 5 is a perspectiveview of the completed bow. Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing analternative positioningof reenforcing members.

In the manufacture of the bow, a plece 10 of the proper type of lumberis first shaped 'as shown in Fig. 1. A groove or .rabbet 11 is then cutin one edge of the wooden member as F indicated in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. Apiece of steel or other reenforcing material 12, shaped as illustratedin Fig. 3, is then placed in the slot 11 and secured in place by aplurality of screws 13. The whole assembly is then heated in hot wateror a steam retort to give the proper pliancy to the wooden member. Afterheating, the assembly is bent by any common form of wood bending machineinto the shape illustrated in Fig. 4. The usual finishing processes arethen applied to the wood work 5 and the bow iscompleted.

1929. Serial No. 378,140.

There are obvious advantages in placing the metal reenforcement in theposition contemplated herein. First, the metal -is in the proper placeto receive the tensile stress due to any tendency for the ends of thebow. to springoutward: Second, since the reenforcing member has itslongest dimension in the vertical direction, it is in the properposition for adequately resisting any vertical bending strain in thebow:. Third, the reenforcing member, by being placed atlone side of thebow as illustrated inFig. 2, is not in position to interfere with tacksor screws which will be f used in fastening fabric covering to the upperor under side of the bow. Fourth, by the use 5 of a-continuousreenforcing member eXtendv ing completely across the top of the bow" iaround the corners and a substantial distance down each leg of the bow,theentire bow is thoroughly reenfor'ced. It is obvious that such areenforcing piece could not be inserted in the wooden member afterbending without carrying the slot 11 to the extreme ends of the bow.Since these ends are preferably made of a tapering shape, such anextension of the slot would greatly weaken the ends. 1

If desired, a plurality of reenforcing members may be used positioned asshown in Fig. 6 wherein illustrates the wooden portion and 112 indicatestwo reenforcing members.

The invention claimed is 1. The process of manufacture of a reenforcedbow including the shaping of a wooden member with a groove in one sideterminating; j Y I short of 1ts ends, the securing of a reenforcing;

piece therein, and the simultaneous bending j of the wooden member andreenforcing mem-' her to the desired bow'shape with the'reenforcingmember on the inner edge-of the bow and extending a substantial distancealong the legs of the bow. i r

2. The process of manufacture ofa reenforced bow including the shapingof a wooden member with a groove in one side terminating short of itsends, the securing of a reenforcing piece therein, and the simultaneousbending of the wooden member and reenforcing member to the desired bowshape with the reenforcing member on'the inner edge of the bow; I Y

1 3. The process of manufacture of a reen- GUY L. FITCH, 0F Meritor ous,InLiivo s V J {j} forced bow including the shaping of a. wooden memberwith a groovein one side, the securin of a reenforcing piece therein,and the 'su sequent simultaneous bending of the wooden member-andreenforcing piece to the desired bow shape with the longestcross-sectional dimension of the reenforcing piece substantiallyperpendicular to the inner edge of the bow. i

In witness whereof, I have hereunto aflixed my signature. 7

' GUY L. FITCH.

